Military Cross for Jack Doe

The firefight took place on June 27 2006, but the award of a Military Cross has only just been made because medals for special forces soldiers are treated separately for security reasons.

The Special Boat Service team had grabbed the Taliban they were sent in to collect and were on their way back to base, but were ambushed by a force of 70 Taliban who destroyed one of their vehicles. They were forced to flee the vehicles and became pinned down in an irrigation ditch.

"They had an OP [observation post] from which they were watching the targets," one special forces source said.

"They were expecting a meeting of just four key guys but the OP was compromised and they were ambushed by 70-odd Taliban."

Capt David Patten, 38, from Aghadowey, Co Londonderry, a member of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, was killed as the team tried to escape across the fields.

The leader of the patrol was badly wounded by a bullet that went through his forearm and passed through his watch and they were left pinned down in a ditch with their grinning Taliban prisoners, who were now certain they would be freed, one source said.

As dawn broke, one SBS commando, Sgt Paul Bartlett, 35, from Poole, made an attempt to get back to the vehicles but was shot dead. However, this allowed the patrol to see where the the Taliban fire was coming from.

The MC winner, one of two brothers in the SBS, took charge and led the men in holding off the Taliban, manoeuvring himself into a position from where he could throw a grenade into the main enemy position. The 13 fit men not only managed to hold off the Taliban until a Gurkha platoon arrived but killed dozens of the Taliban.

The leader of the patrol lost his forearm as a result of his wounds but is still with the service.

This Marine offers up a hearty "Semper Fi, Jack!" Here's hoping the entire team has been privately recognized for their collective and individual valour. They are so recognized here.

UPDATE:The good news: Britain plans to boost its Afghanistan force in Helmand province with 600 troops, most for additional reconstruction efforts following the recapture of Musa Qala. The bad news: "The move to send extra troops follows the failure to persuade NATO allies to contribute more towards operations in the dangerous areas of Afghanistan."